Ilyushin IL-62 in 1/400 Scale

Updated: July 2016

When it first flew in 1963 the Ilyushin IL-62 (NATO codename Classic) was the world's largest passenger jet, though it had a rather tortuous development period and didn't actually enter service until 1967. Despite a passing similarity to Vickers VC10 it is very much its own design and following the retirement of the huge Tupolev TU-114 it was the only Soviet long-haul jet airliner for over 20 years. In the end 292 aircraft were produced, the majority of which (193) were the improved IL-62M variant. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union the IL-62 found itself in servie with several of the new CIS states as well as a host of Russian start-up airlines. Despite its relative inefficiency it wasn't until the economic crisis of 2008 that the IL-62 largely disappeared from Russian skies.

This mould appears to have an interesting ancestry since it was first used as early as 2004 seemingly by somebody called the Schaefer Collection to represent an Interflug IL-62. Only 500 units were built and it seems this group never made any other models. I can't believe they commissioned the mould so am at a bit of a loss to explain its sudden appearance. Whatever the reason the mould itself is very nice - though perhaps the nosegear leg is too high making the nose slightly elevated.

It took another two years until the mould resurfaced when Gemini Jets slipped out the odd IL-62 between 2006 and 2009. Only a handful of models were made representing in order of production:

Cubana

CSA

Aeroflot (1990s Clrs)

Domodedovo Airlines

Air Koryo

Rossiya

All of these models are very nice, though the Air Koryo does seem to suffer from misplaced cockpit windows which somewhat spoils it.

It was to be another two years until the next IL-62 in the colours of LOT appeared and by then the mould had been updated with rolling gears. This was not a total success as the nosegear seems to be too short in this release making it look a bit odd not helped by some poor cockpit windows too. Another two years and the last use of the mould was in 2013 with an excellent Aeroflot Soviet colours example with Moscow Olympics markings. Ths issues the LOT model shows have been fixed with this release which is excellent.

Given Gemini's reluctance to produce unusual or non-airline ordered aircraft releases it is unsurprising that the mould has not been used more. This is a great shame as there are plenty of interesting airlines that could be made using the mould - albeit few that would probably sell in the numbers Gemini typically produces. Gemini showed the mould is still out there this year when it made its 10th IL-62 with a modified and improved version of the Air Koryo. I'd like to think we'll see some more Russian Classisc in years to come.

One of the IL-62's most characteristic features is the extendable rear landing gear strut under the tail used to stop the aircraft tipping backwards when unloaded and on the ground. Gemini has catered for this novel feature with a detachable strut which can be fixed in place to represent the gear lowered or another piece which can be fitted inside the cavity to represent the gear raised. Its a nice touch though it can be tricky to fit sometimes.